Holder for writing instruments



Sept. 12, 1933. I J w, z LD 1,926,376

HOLDER FOR WRITING INSTRUMENTS Filed Dec. 22. 1930 v T I IN V EN TOR.

ATTO EY.

Patented Sept. 12, 1933 UNITED STATES PATEN'll OFFICE?- HOLDER FOR WRITING INSTRUMENTS Application December 22, 1930 Serial No. 504,040

12 Claims. (Cl. 120-108) This invention relates to certain new and useful improvements in holders for pens, pencils and the like, comprising a base or mounting member and a receptacle carried thereby into which the inner end of the pen, pencil or the like is adapted to be inserted, and has as an object to provide an improved and novel holder of this character in which the mounting member is capable of bodily movement about a fixed point and the receptacle is movable about a horizontal axis with reference to the mounting member.

A more specific object of this invention resides in the provision of an improved holder of the character described having a plurality of supporting feet projected therefrom, one of which has a frictional contact with the desk or other surface upon which the same rests, and the others a sliding contact therewith, and a writing instrument receptacle adjustably carried by said base.

in the provision of an improved holder of the character described in which the base member proper may be of spherical or other shape and is formed in three sections, the medial one being rotatable about a horizontal axis and having a Writing instrument receptacle fixed thereto,'and the spherical base being bodily rotatable about an axis disposed at right angles to the axis of rotation by said middle section.

With the above and other objectsin view which will appear as the description proceeds, my invention resides in the novel construction, combination and arrangement of parts substantially as hereinafter described and more particularly defined by the appended claims, it being understood that such changes in the precise embodiment ofthe hereindisclosed invention may be made a come within the scope of the claims.

In the accompanying drawing, I have illustrated one complete example of the physical embodiment of my invention constructed according to the best mode I have so far devised for the practical application of the principles thereof,

' and in which:

Figure 1 is a view partly in side elevation and partly in section of a pen or writing instrument holder embodying my invention; 7 I

Figure 2 is a view partly in section and taken on the plane of the line 2-2 of Figure 1;

Figure 3 is an enlarged detail View of one sup- Figure 4 is a perspective view illustrating the And a further object of this invention resides tending threaded bore 19 in which a stud 20 elements separated andin their relative positions of assembly; and

Figure 5 is a view similar to Figure 3 showing another leg of the holder.

Referring now more particularly to the accompanying drawing, the numeral 5 designates a base member which, in the present embodiment is of spherical shape and comprises three sections, two outer spherical segments 6 and an intermediate disc or circular section 7. A pin 8 having its end portions 9 pressed or otherwise secured in axial bores 10 in the outer segments 6 secures the sections together and journals the intermediate section 7 for rotation about the axis of the pin. 7

A bracket member 11 having its ends secured to the outer segments by screws or other means 12 so as not to interfere with the movement of the intermediate section with'respect to the outer segments, has a leg member 13 projected radially therefrom, the extreme end 'of which is directed at a downward angle and counterbored to receive a friction member or foot 1% of rubber or the like. The leg member 13 cooperates with two other radially extended leg members 16 to provide a three point mounting for the spherical base, one leg member 16 being threaded or other wise connected with each outer segment. The leg members 16 are similar in construction to, the member 13 and likewise have their outer ends directed at a downward angle and counterbored as at 1'7, but in place of the rubber friction member 14, the counterbores 17 have anti-friction foot members 18 formed of felt or other material presenting considerably less surface friction than rubber.

' With the base member resting on a smooth desk top 15 or other supporting surface the rubber foot 14, by its greater frictional engagement with the supporting surface provides a pivot 9- point about which the base member may be swung. It is of course, understood that the foot member 14 may be formed of any material providing the necessary friction and that the members 18 need not be formed of felt, but'r'nay con- 00 sist of any material presenting less friction to the supporting surface than the foot member 14 "The intermediate section '7 has a radially excarried by a writing instrument receptacle 21, is secured. The receptacle 21 is of conventional construction and has a central bore 22 for the reception of the inner end of the pen, pencil or other writing instrument 23.

From the foregoing description taken in connection with the accompanying drawing, it will be readily apparent to those skilled in the art to which this invention appertains that the receptacle 21 may be angularly adjusted with reference to the surface 15 by rotation of the intermediate section '7 about the axis of the pin 8, being held in adjusted position by the frictional contact between the engaging faces of the base member sections, and that the receptacle 21, may be readily moved sidewise to any position by bodily swinging the base member about the pivot aiforded by the frictional engagement of the rubber foot 14 carried by the leg member 13,

with the surface of the supporting element. The' base member obviously may be ornamented or designed to represent a base ball, golf ball or the like so that the holder is particularly adapted for use as a trophy.

What I claim as my invention is:

l. A device of the character described comprising a base member having a plurality of contact points for engagement with a supporting surface, friction means at only one of said contact points, for engagement with the supporting surface, the other contact points having a free sliding engagement with the supporting surface, whereby sidewise motion imparted to the base member causes the same to swing about said contact point having the friction means, and a receptacle for a writing instrument carried by the base member.

2. A holder for writing instruments comprising a base, a plurality of supporting members carried by the base and adapted to mount the base from a supporting surface, friction means carried by one of said supporting members, anti-friction means carried by the other, whereby the base is bodily movable about the axis of the point of contact ofthe friction means with the supporting surface, and a writing instrument receptacle movably associated with the base. a I

3. A holder for writing instruments comprising, a base formed'of complementary sections, one of which is movable with respect to the others about a substantially horizontal axis, a writing instrument receptacle connectedwith said first mentioned section to be movable therewith, a plurality of means mounting the base from a supporting surface, one of said means having a frictional contact with the supporting surface, whereby the base is bodily movable about the point of frictional contact with the supporting surface.

4. A holder for writing instruments comprising a base consisting of an intermediate section and outer sections, means connecting the outer sections and mounting the intermediate section for movement with respect thereto, a writing instrument receptacle carried by the intermediate section to be movable therewith, and a plurality of means carried by the outer sections for mounting the base for bodily movement about the point of contact of one of said means with a supporting surface. s t

. 5. A holder for writing instruments comprising, a base consistingof an intermediate section and outer sections, means fixedly connecting the outer sections and mounting the intermediate section for rotation about a substantially horizontal axis and relative to the outer sections, said outer sections frictionally engaging the intermediate section to restrain said movement and hold the intermediate section in any desired position, a writing instrument holder carried by the intermediate section, and a plurality of supporting .one'of said supporting legs for engagement with the supporting surface, and anti-friction means carried by the outer supporting legs, whereby the base is bodily movable about the point of contact of said friction means with the supporting suri face.

7. A holder for writing instruments comprising, a base, mounting means for the base having a free sliding engagement with a supporting surface, friction means carried by the base to have a frictional contact with the supporting surface which is of small localized area with respect to the sliding engagement of the mounting means whereby the base is bodily movable about the point of frictional contact, andmeans carried by the base for receiving a writing instrument.

8. A holder for writing instruments comprising a base, a receptacle, adapted to receive one end portion of a writing instrument, means connecting the receptacle with the base, said means ids accommodating movement of the receptacle with respect to the base about a substantially horizontal axis but restraining relative movement between the receptacle and the base about any other axis, whereby a sidewise force applied to the outer end of a writing instrument in the receptacle imparts sidewise movement to the base, and friction means carried by the base for engagement with a supporting surface upon which the base rests to direct the movement imparted to the base and cause the base to swing about the point of contact of the friction means with the surface.

9. A writing instrument holder comprising, a base, a receptacle adapted to receive one end portion of a writing instrument, means mounting the receptacle from the base for pivotal movement with respect to the base in a substantially vertical plane, but preventing movement of the receptacle with respect to the basein any other plane whereby force applied in a substantially horizontal direction to the outer end of a writing instrument carried by the receptacle tends to slide the base over the surface upon which it rests, and afoot member carried by the base and having means for frictionally contacting the sup- 7 porting surfaceso that any substantially horizontal movement imparted to the outer free end of the writing instrument swings the base about said point of frictional contact.

10. A holder for writing instruments comprising a substantially spherical body having substantial weight, a plurality of supporting feet projecting radially from the body with their outer ends lying in a common plane to support the body from a supporting surface, a writing instrument holder projecting radially from the body, a friction pad carried by one of the supporting feet, and anti-friction pads carried by the other supporting feet, whereby sidewise motion imparted -to a writing instrument carried in the holder causes the bodyto swing about the point of fricintermediate section, a pin passed through the intermediate section and connecting the outer sections, said intermediate section being journailed on the pin for movement with respect to the outer sections, about the axis of the pin, a writing instrument receptacle carried by said intermediate section, a strap having its ends connected to the outer sections and extending across the intermediate section, and supporting feet for the body, one of said supporting feet being carried by the strap.

JOHN W. FITZ GERALD. 

